Device for delivering train-orders



No. 749,093. PATENTBD JAN. 5, 1904..

w. H. BI KB T. DBVIGE FOR DELIVERING TRAIN ORDERS, MESSAGES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1903-, 4

UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLIAM H. PIGKETT, OF SHANNOPIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,093, dated January5,1904. Application filed May 23, 1903. Serial No. 158,450. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PIOKETT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Shannopin, in the county of Beaver and State ofPennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDevices for Delivering Train-Orders, Messages, 850., of which thefollowingis aspecification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devicesfor delivering train-orders, messages, mail, and articles of variouskinds to engineers or conductors of moving cars or trains in a mannerwhereby the message or other article may be conveniently caught by theengineer or other trainman, and thus obviating the necessity of stoppingor delaying the train for the delivery of messages or other articles.

It is the object of my invention to improve and simplify theconstruction of this class of devices whereby to insure the properpositioning of the message-holding hoop that it may be engaged by theengineer or other trainman, and the provision of means which will insurethe message-holding hoop leaving the holder without strain or pull afterthe said hoop has been caught by the engineer or other trainman; and itis a further object of my invention to provide a message-holding hoopwhich will not be damaged when thrown from the train after the messageor other article has been detached therefrom.

In describing the invention in detail refertion in full lines and intheir released position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 isa diagrammatical planview,the handle partly broken away, showing the positions assumed by theswiveled bail and the message-holding hoop during the use of the device.Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the head of thehandle, showing the means for temporarily holding the bail in properposition. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form ofconstruction of same.

In the practice of delivering a message or other article to any memberof a train crew the station attendant is obliged to closely approach thetrain, and as the train is often running at a high rate of speed theclose approach of the station attendant thereto .is fraught withconsiderable danger. My inveution aims to obviate these dangers and topermit the delivery of the message, trainorder, or other articleconveniently, surely, and with comparative safety. v

To put my invention into practice I provide a rod or pole 1, which formsa handle which is made of a suitable or desired length, and in thepracticeof my invention I preferably construct this rod or pole with ahead 2 for the purpose which willmore presently appear. 2

In order to permit the use of the device at night and to enable theengineer or other trainman to properly catch the message-holding hoop atsuch time, I provide in the head 2 the supporting-hook 3, on which theordinary lantern may be suspended, and I also provide this head with asocket 4' to permit the holding of a torch 5, as shown. Thus either atorch or a lantern of the form ordinarily used upon railroads may beadvantageously employed. The pole or handleis preferably made of wood orother like material, and in the head thereof beyond the supporting meansfor the light I provide a transverse opening through which is passed thecrossbar of the yoke 6 of the bail, which embodies in its constructionsaid yoke and the two spring-arms 7, the ends 8 of which are bent in aline-of an are different from that of the body of the arms,thus formingshoulders 9 adjacent to the ends of the arms. The side arms of the yoke6 are adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the head 2, and in orderto maintain the bail in alinement with the pole or handle until a pullis exerted against the same I provide holding means for this purpose,which may consist of a staple 10, inserted in theone face of the headand provided with-a depression 11 to receive one of the side arms ofsaid yoke, or I may provide a depression 12 directly in the head 2, asseen in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The bail is adapted to temporarily holdthe message-holding hoop 14, preferably constructed of suitable wire.This hoop 14 is made of a single piece of wire bent into substantiallycircular form with the ends securely twisted or otherwise fastenedtogether, as at 15. At its two opposite sides the wire hoop is given atwist or bend to form eyes 16, which are adapted to be engaged with theends 8 of the spring-arms 7 of the bail. At its side which is adjacentto the end of the pole or handle the ring or hoop 18 is given a compoundbend or return to form the clamp 17 for holding the message,

letter, or other article to be delivered. This compound bend, formingthe holding-clamp, is an essential feature of my invention, and I desireto call attention to the fact that the message or letter is securelyheld at both points 18, being gripped between the returnbend portion ofthe wire and the main body thereof. In practice the message or otherarticle is slipped into spring-clamp 17, and the operator holds thedevice upin position where the engineer or other trainman may hold hisarm in such position as it will enter hoop 14. As the hoop 14 is engagedwith the arm of the person receiving the message the bail attached tothe pole or handle is swung around at an angle to the bolt or handle, asseen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, until it assumes practically a rightangle, at which time the pull on the hoop is directly away from thebail, thus allowing the eyes 16 to pass otf of the ends 8 of thespring-arms of the bail with but slight resistance and only withresistance which is due to the spring of the arms 7. It is to be notedthat these arms are made of spring material, requiring their compressionor forcing toward each other slightly in order to engage the same in theeyes of the hoop.

I desire to call attention to the fact that the fastening of the bail insuch a manner to the handle as to prevent its accidental side or lateralplay securely holds the hoop in the extended position ready to beengaged over the arm of the person to receive the message, this holdingmeans, however, being readily overcome by the pull against the hoop whenthe same is engaged with the arm of the person, and as this hoop andbail swing around at substantially right angles to the pole or handlethe hoop is permitted to pass off of the spring-arms with but slightresistance.

Where it is found necessary to hold the message more firm in the hoop orring 18, I employ aclamp. (Illustrated in Fig. 6.) This clamp 19comprises a body portion 20, having an aperture therein for thereception of the wire forming the hoop, and on said body portion areintegrally formed the prongs 21, the under side being beveled, as shownat 22, to engage the wire forming the compound bend 17. By this clamp 19the message or letter is firmly held between the wire forming the hoopand the wire forming the compound bend.

The operation of my invention, it is believed,will now be readilyunderstood byreference to the foregoing description and the accompanyingdrawings, and in the practice of the invention it will be noted thatvarious changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A delivery device for train-orders or other messages comprising a rodor pole, a bail swiveled in the said rod or pole near the outer endthereof, means for holding said bail in alinement with the rod or pole,and a message-holding hoop detachably secured to the end of said bail,substantially as described,

2. A delivery device for train-orders or other messages comprising a rodor pole, a bail mounted in the end of said pole and adapted toswinglaterally to either side thereof, said bail embodyingoutwardly-projecting spring-arms, and a message or order holding hoophaving oppositely-disposed eyes for engagement with the ends of saidspring-arms, substantially as described.

3. Adelivery device for train-orders or messages comprising arod orpole, means for suspending alight from said rod or pole, springarmsconnected to said rod or pole and adapted to swing toward either side ofthe pole, means for temporarily holding said springarms in alinementwith the pole, and a message or order holding hoop detachably secured tothe ends of said spring-arms, substantially as described.

4. A delivery device for train-orders or the like comprising a rod orpole having one end provided with means for suspending a light, a pairof spring-arms connected to said rod or pole and adapted toswinglaterally toward each side o f the pole, and a message-holding hoopadapted to be detachably connected to the outer end of said arms,substantially as described.

5. A delivery device for train-orders or the like, comprising a rod orpole having one end provided with means for suspending a light, a pairof spring'arms connected to said rod or pole and adapted to swinglaterally toward each side of the pole, a message-holding loop adaptedto be detachably connected to the outer end of said arms, a messageclasp or clamp secured upon the message-holding hoop and adapted tofirmly secure the message upon the hook, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM H. PICKETT.

Witnesses:

JAs. W. DRAPE, J. B. DOHERTY.

